She stood watching and waiting to see what would happen.
Presently Marzio moved.

Lucia thought he was going to rise from his knees, but she was surprised to see that he only changed the position of the crucifix with one hand.

He approached his head so near the lower part of it that Lucia fancied he was in the act of pressing his lips upon the crossed feet of the silver Christ.

Then he drew back a little, turned his head to one side, and touched the figure with his right hand.
It was evident, now, that he was no longer praying, but that something about the workmanship had attracted his attention.
How natural, the girl said to herself, that this man, even in such a supreme moment, should not forget his art--that, even in prayer, his eyes should mechanically detect an error of the chisel, a flaw in the metal, or some such detail familiar to his daily life.

She did not think the worse of him for it.